Matthew McConaughey Says He Thought Acting Was A Stopgap Before Dazed And Confused

Few actors are more instantly-recognizable than Matthew McConaughey. From his distinct style of speech, to his ability to make the most absurd statements sound utterly profound, the guy has almost certainly made his mark on the big and small screens. That said, it turns out that we almost didn't get that legendary filmography, as McConaughey apparently viewed acting as a temporary gig prior to getting cast in Dazed and Confused. In a recent interview, the actor explained,

That was the role that, at that time I didn't know if it was going to be a hobby or something I was doing for the summer, and it turned out to be a career. That's where it all started and I always look back to that one.

Can you even imagine Hollywood without Matthew McConaughey? Well, according to the actor's recent remarks to ET, he mostly viewed acting as something to do for fun before getting cast in Richard Linklater's 1993 classic, Dazed and Confused. From there, the actor would go on to achieve stardom for his portrayal of the infinitely cool Wooderson, solidifying his place as a Hollywood royalty and pave the way for roles in other classic films like Frailty, Killer Joe, and The Wolf of Wall Street -- not to mention a 2014 Oscar win for Dallas Buyers Club.

Of course, the rest is now history, as Matthew McConaughey was seemingly tailor-made for the Dazed and Confused role that would eventually catapult him to stardom. Don't believe me? You can check out his audition for the role of Wooderson, below:

It is worth noting that Matthew McConaughey was not the only actor whose career was catapulted to the stratosphere by Dazed and Confused. The film features an incredible ensemble of actors that would eventually go on to big things in Hollywood, including DCEU star Ben Affleck, Resident Evil star Milla Jovovich, Star Trek Discovery actor Anthony Rapp, and Chasing Amy star Joey Lauren Adams. Without Linklater's work, many of their careers (including McConaughey's) would likely look decidedly different.

In the years since Dazed and Confused became a cultural sensation, Matthew McConaughey has gone on to become a Hollywood fixture in his own right. With that in mind, you can check out his latest work in the realm of acting when White Boy Rick debuts in theaters on September 14th. Beyond that, head over to our movie premiere guide to read up on all of the films that are set to debut in theaters before 2018 comes to an end.